ATTENTION!!!!!!!!! Do not join the group currently on Facebook entitled “Becoming a Father or a Mother was the Greatest Gift of My Life.” It is a group of PEDOPHILES trying to access your photos. The story this was on Fox News at 5pm last night. Please copy and post to all of your friends-Lets Keep children safe (only takes a minute to re post)!

This week’s most thought-provoking letter to the editor is one that I felt was better suited for sharing on the blog, as it requires some explanation and special formatting to make sense to the reader. After reading of last week’s tragic slaying of Max King, a Rochester boy only 15 years old, city resident Ron Thomas wrote the following piece, titled “Max’s Plea”:

Oh, politicians will include a joke or two in most stump speeches, either falsely self-deprecating or at the expense of the opposing party. But because elected officials need to be seen as serious people, they tread lightly in matters comedic.

Which is why it was something of a surprise to see venerable actor and director Clint Eastwood doing schtick on the closing night — in the closing hour — of the Republican National Convention. By turns humorous, head-scratching and halting, Eastwood made the case for a Romney administration, in part, by addressing an empty chair in a faux “conversation” with President Obama.

It was a change of pace, perhaps more appropriate for the annual Gridiron Club dinner than a national convention. And Eastwood’s halting ad libs at times bordered on embarrassing. (Republican Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin today said he “cringed” during the 10-minute speech.)

But that doesn’t mean the idea of comedians at conventions should be abandoned. A few suggestions:

1) Get a professional. Eastwood was playing against type and the result was awkward. Also, the chair bit was a little weird — although it led to an on-the-spot Twitter account called Invisible Obama, complete with chair icon, that already has 40,000-plus followers.

2) Schedule such fare earlier in the evening and earlier in the convention. The speaker appearing during the same hour as the convention’s nominee shouldn’t be making f-bomb references about a sitting president, as Eastwood did to the evident shock of some delegates.

National political conventions have long since transformed from gatherings in which candidates are determined to hyper-scripted productions designed to promote the candidates and their platform (and to cast aspersions at the opposition). They are largely predictable, and largely boring. They could use a little fun.

If they opt to add some comic relief, however, convention organizers need to ensure the audience is laughing with the performer, and not at him.

Before the Republican National Convention started, I heard one of the pundits say that only 6% of the potential voters were undecided and 19% could change their minds at this point in the campaign. So, the objective of the Republican convention was to appeal to a narrow swath of people in swing states who remained undecided. Some polls identified them as suburban women. How well the convention addressed this objective will be left to more accomplished analysts but as a registered Republican woman, I would like to offer my impressions of the speakers at the convention and their ability to communicate a compelling rationale for why Mitt Romney should be the next President of the United States.
As I reflect on the speakers who resonated with me and my values, they were almost all real people, not politicians. In the blur of talking heads, here are the people who made a strong impression:
Frantze Placide, the young man from Miami who made the choice to leave his rough neighborhood and go to high school with one of the toughest academic environments in the city. He is now a college graduate because of school choice programs.
Pam Finlayson, the Mormon woman with a sick child who passionately described a mother’s worry and fear and how Mitt Romney came to pray and visit with her. She said, “When it comes to loving our neighbor, we can talk about it or we can live it. The Romney’s live it every single day.”
When Ann Romney spoke, I initially thought, “I have nothing in common with this woman.” Then, as she described how she wants to make the country better for her children and her grandchildren, I did relate and it occurred to me that she and her husband could take their millions and go around the world. Instead, he will probably do what he did in Massachusetts and serve at the will of the people with no salary, in order to apply his very formidable gifts to solving this country’s fiscal and social problems.
I liked the way Secretary Jane Edmonds recounted her first meeting with Mitt Romney and as a liberal Democrat, how impressed she was with his willingness to be open to a broad range of opinions but how decisive he was in making things happen in Massachusetts.
Two politicians I loved were Condoleeza Rice and Gov. Susana Martinez. They both related stories about disadvantaged beginnings, strong work ethics imparted by their parents, a belief in a place where anything is possible based on your desire to build something better for yourself.
When the candidate took the stage, he inspired a confidence that he could provide the leadership we need to solve the seemingly insurmountable problems of debt, unemployment, fear and division which our country faces right now. The choice between big government and people helping each other succeed is before us. And the real people need to make that choice.

Remember the “I Love Lucy” episode when Lucy and Ricky took the Hollywood tour of stars’ Beverly Hills homes after moving from the East Coast to California? OK, may be not. But take it from a Lucy fan from way back, it was a hoot at the time.

I thought of that episode after reading a piece in today’s New York Times about the TMZ Hollywood Tours, which started up last year and have become the hottest tours in L.A. More than 6,000 people took the tour last month, up from about 2,000 in the same month just a year ago.

So why are the TMZ tours so hot? Well, the people who brought you the low down on celebrity gossip and news via the Web and now on television, are cashing in on consumers’ appetite for low down gossip tours. Their tours in cherry-red open air vans, include driving by the hotel where Paris Hilton filmed a sex tape and the spot where a drunken Halle Berry crashed her car into a liquor store, and the mental ward where Britney Spears was held.

Oh well, that’s just how they do it in LA, right? Wrong.

TMZ told the Times that it plans to begin offering its tawdry tours in New York City early next year. Should be interesting.

I can imagine stops by, say, Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver’s Manhattan offices. Most recently the second most powerful Democrat in New York state has been under fire for signing a secret deal that paid out more than $100,000 in taxpayer money to cover up a sexual harassment charge against a longtime Assemblyman from New York City. That’s just for starters, of course.

I’ve been a lifeguard for a year and a half and a Red Cross Swim Instructor since I was 11. After teaching kids aged K-5 how to swim and basic aquatic skills for almost 7 years, I’ve come to appreciate my ability to swim.

I lifeguard at two pools, one year-round and one just during the summer. I’ve come in contact with all types of people – black, white, old, young, big and small. Everyone has different capabilities in the water, and when someone comes in claiming they “can’t swim,” I do my best to help them leave feeling a bit more comfortable with water.

I’m a firm believer everyone should know how to swim. Adults included. Just because you think its too late, or you were a good swimmer 15 years ago, or you wont ever need to know how, you’re wrong. The lives of Chantha Nhong, Sr.and Keo Nhong could have easily been saved if they were wearing life jackets or if they knew how to swim. Thankfully, the kids involved in the accident were wearing flotation devices and somehow knew what to do to save themselves.

If you don’t know how to swim, I personally wouldn’t suggest buying a boat. Or driving kids around in it. Or your brother, who doesn’t know how to swim either. Just promise you’ll never be too cool to wear a life jacket. As a kid in a frightening situation like that, I would expect the adult to be the hero. Paul Castro and Chantha Nhong, Jr., 9- and 8-year-old children, were left to fend for themselves because of irresponsibility. Parents should always be there to rescue their children, and it shouldn’t be the other way around. Kudos to whoever strapped life vests on those kids.

I don’t have anything in common with Ann Romney. I have worked outside of the home since I graduated from college. I waited to get married until after college. My husband was not a big-time business leader. He was the one who stayed home to take care of our four kids. We never became super-wealthy. Neither of us aspired to public office.
However, after reflecting on her talk Tuesday at the Republican convention, it occured to me that we have all the most important values in life in common.
She talked about their love for each other and for their family. She cares about the future of this country as it affects her children and grandchildren.
With a national debt which now exceeds the gross domestic product, I am very concerned about the country we are leaving to our children. Most of this debt is now owed to the Chinese government, which is a very scary proposition, considering the way they value human life and freedom.
So, I have nothing in common with Ann Romney….except for everything which really matters. The love I have for my family, my community and my country and the hope that someone very competent can restore faith for the future.

Rep. Kathy Hochul, who met with the Editorial Board Tuesday, might put those with long political memories in mind of another Empire State politician, Gov. Al Smith — and not just because the two share an Irish heritage.

Rep. Kathy Hochul

Smith, a four-time governor and 1928 Democratic presidential candidate, was known as the Happy Warrior. There is something of that political joie de vivre in Hochul, the first-term congresswoman whose district stretches from the suburbs of Buffalo to those of Rochester.

The region’s economy continues to struggle? Yes, but she’s feeling more optimistic than ever that with just some final pieces — connecting tech-savvy college grads with the businesses that need them; convincing local job-seekers that agriculture is a noble profession — the puzzle will come together.

Congress is mired in partisan gridlock? Then she’ll turn her attention toward creating “the best constituent service office” in the country.

The Democrat’s revamped 26th District has 47,000 more registered Republicans and Conservatives than voters of her own party? Not such a big change from the district she won in a May 2011 special election, she maintains.

It takes more than optimism to make a successful candidate, or congresswoman. Hochul hasn’t been able to claim many legislative successes in her first 15 months but, then, neither have many of her colleagues in the current do-little Congress. But she has good ideas and has identified areas of opportunity in the district in terms of agriculture and manufacturing.

If Hochul wants to continue fighting for her constituents she must first win a tough reelection battle against Republican challenger Chris Collins, a former Erie County executive.

While she points to her political independence — she broke with her party to support the balanced budget amendment, for example — the economy and the popularity of the man at the head of the ticket, President Obama, will combine to make this a challenging election for many Democratic warriors, happy and otherwise.

The beginning of a school year can be extremely sad, frustrating and challenging for the vulnerable children and families in our communities. With limited resources, parental illness, high unemployment rates and other stressful situations that make it difficult for children and their families to adequately prepare for the start of the school year, our community needs to rally together and help support those in need during this tough economic period.

One organization and group that did just that was the African-American Network @ the University of Rochester and over the past three weeks, they held their annual “Back to School” Backpack & School Supply Drive to not only help hundreds of local children prepare themselves for success in school but also help relieve some of the financial burdens, stress and pressure that many of their families face during back to school season.

Kudos to the staff, faculty, students and volunteers at the University of Rochester for not only donating hundreds of dollars worth of backpacks and school supplies but thanks to their tremendous generosity and outpouring support, over 110 children in Kindergarten through 6th grade were provided with the supplies essential to their success in school. In addition to receiving backpacks and school supplies, they were also treated to free hotdogs, burgers and beverages provided by University of Rochester Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer David E. Lewis.

As an employee of the University of Rochester and a member of its African American Network, it feels good knowing that even in today’s struggling economy; people still care about other people needs during this busy, stressful and challenging time for many parents and families in the Rochester community.

I’m very proud of the fact that over the past three years, the University of Rochester community has donated over $5,500 worth of supplies, which has helped over 550 children go back to school with not only the tools and resources needed for them to learn and succeed in the school year but also with the real hope, motivation, encouragement and confidence they so desperately need to face the difficult educational challenges ahead.

Participating in caring community initiatives like this is one of many reason why the University of Rochester it’s not just Rochester’s largest employer but one of its most caring employers as well.

D&C reporter Tiffany Lankes’ report that up to 50 percent of kids may be absent from Rochester city schools hit a chord with me. This past school year, I volunteered at School 22, usually helping students with reading and language skills.

I was already aware that attendance for city kids was an issue, having talked several times to Superintendent Bolgen Vargas about his efforts to go door to door to find out why kids weren’t in class. One early morning, in the second grade where I was helping, a child came in after the lesson had started. The teacher greeted him with a big smile, and then said “You are here two days in a row! That is so good to see.” I was struck by her comment. Obviously this wasn’t the norm for him. How can she help him learn to read when he’s not there?

I usually arrived at the school about 15 minutes later than the first bell, and I regularly saw kids coming into school at the same time as me, often being brought by a parent. They were coming in tardy, but at least they were coming. (An aside, I was surprised by how many times I saw an adult male bringing a child to school, given how we hear so often that dads aren’t in the picture. That made me feel good.)

We can’t underestimate the effect that high absenteeism has on helping kids do well in school. It’s certainly frustrating for teachers. A high school chemistry teacher told me last year that if he had the same group of kids show up every day and another group absent every day, at least he could make a difference with those who came consistently. But the same group doesn’t come every day.

I have to admit I just shake my head at the district’s difficulties at tracking attendance. I know a lot of educators hate to have a school district compared to how a business is run, but really, this is one area where I think some best practices from business could be utilized. Then the district can get serious about finding out why kids aren’t in school and helping them to get there. Because that’s actually a much more difficult problem than tracking who showed up and who didn’t.

This just in from Congressman John Lewis, a pillar of the civil rights movement, on the significance of this day in American history:

August 28 – A Story of American Struggle

By U. S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)

WASHINGTON – Next year this nation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington on August 28, 2013. Many of you will be on your way to DC to honor the legacy of a movement that helped liberate, not only African Americans but all Americans from the chains of legalized segregation. As we approach this significant moment in our history, I challenge you to dig even deeper into your own legacy and reflect upon the importance that this one day– August 28th–has played in our history. You will find that its history reads like a chronicle of the modern African American story.

It was on August 28, 1955, that a 14-year-old boy named Emmett Till was kidnapped from his uncle’s home in Money, Mississippi and lynched. Many historians mark his death as the launch of the modern-day Civil Rights Movement in America. Just a few months later on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks’ action would inspire the boycott of segregated buses in Montgomery, Alabama that lasted 381 days.

On August 28, 1957, Strom Thurmond, a Republican senator from South Carolina and a staunch segregationist held the longest filibuster any one senator ever conducted to block passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. The bill was written by then Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson, and originally devised as an attempt to mandate voting rights for African Americans by outlawing intimidation and coercion at the polls. The filibuster ended with alterations to the bill, but it did not stop its passage. It was ultimately signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower, establishing the Civil Rights Commission and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Those two agencies continue to play powerful roles in helping to ensure that the voting rights and civil rights of African Americans and all Americans are enforced to this day.

On August 28, 1963, Dr. King gave his historic I Have A Dream Speech on the National Mall at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It was a testament to the power of non-violent resistance. But just one year later on August 28, 1964, acts of police brutality incited rioting in Philadelphia. Over 300 were injured and over 700 arrested. Altogether seven American cities experienced rioting that summer including the Harlem riots and, Rochester, New York and those in Paterson and Elizabeth City, New Jersey. Violence struck again on the 28th in1968 outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago due to another episode of police brutality.

By midday on August 28, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed the New Orleans coast with 145 mile an hour winds prompting a mandatory evacuation of Orleans Parish. And finally on August 28, 2008, as if to link this great past to a turning point in America’s future, Barack Obama became the first African American Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

The story of August 28 tells a powerful tale of the African American struggle to demand respect for human dignity in America. I was there when Dr. King pricked the moral conscience of the nation calling us to lay down the burdens of hate and division. As the last remaining speaker from the March on Washington I can tell you that the lessons of that make it plain that we cannot defeat the adversaries of justice in one day, a week or a year. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime. We must dedicate ourselves to this higher calling and stay in the struggle. The only way to make a difference is to get involved and stay engaged, through the highs and lows, the easy times and the difficult struggles. That is the lesson of August 28th. We have to keep on pushing and pulling knowing without a doubt that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it always bend toward justice.”

That is why we must vote in November and vote like never before, not because we have gotten everything we ever wanted from the political process. But because, if we do not join forces together and continue to take action,we cannot ever expect to get what we so rightly deserve.

For crying out loud already get off Louise Slaughter’s age! I just saw her at the Democrat’s Annual Family Picnic. This phenomenal woman has the energy of a teenager and the mental clarity of a 35 year old. Add that to her wisdom, knowledge, and on the job experience and you cannot help but see who should continue to represent us in Congress.

What I find amazing is that most of the people, who are putting her down, Maggie Brooks and her team included, could never hold their own in a conversation with her. I am sorry, I meant not without being given the questions and ANSWERS up front!

Rumor is Maggie does not even want the job, that she was “…roped into this campaign by former Governor Pataki.” I can imagine her not wanting to give up what she has here. She set a historic precedent as the first person voted in as County Executive for a third term. She is in her element.

I can also see how going to Washington, with all its ugliness and mudslinging, may not be in her best interest. Could she even focus on her job while fielding questions about all the scandals that have marred her tenure as the County Executive?

In any event, if all the opposing side has is Louise’s age to harp on, which has not slowed her down physically or mentally, this should be a done deal! However, let the debate speak for itself!

The recent spate of violence, and deaths caused by people going on a rampage have made a violence-weary country approach the news with a sense of foreboding, and even trepidation. What a refreshing change of pace then, when the sincere kindness of a complete stranger reassured my husband and me that the human spirit at its finest is still out there. We were returning from a wedding reception in Toronto when our car unexpectedly failed, and just quit in the middle of the night near Burlington, Ontario. Other than the random car passing by, the street was deserted. There we were, trying to get the vehicle off the ramp, when our angel in disguise Greg pulled over behind us, and offered to help push the car out of the way of traffic. He then stayed with us while we contacted roadside assistance, and provided exact location information and nearby orientation points to the insurance company so they could expedite help. We thanked him and urged him to go on his way, but he insisted on staying with us till some plan of assistance had been worked out. He gave us the names of nearby hotels, and added that if we had any difficulty in finding one, we should consider staying at his home which was nearby. He only left after the insurance company confirmed that a tow truck had been dispatched, and after giving us his business card with the renewed invitation to stay at his home and assuring us that we could call regardless of the time. Thankfully, the tow truck came by shortly thereafter, and we were able to find hotel accommodation at that late hour. Our car was fixed the next day, and we returned home safely a day later than planned, but so rewarded by our contact with a special stranger thanks to whom we now only have positive memories of what could have been a nightmarish experience.

So Greg, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing such unconditional generosity of spirit and true kindness to a couple of strangers you had never seen, and may never see again. And for illustrating through your attitude and action that kindness like yours shines bright and literally dispels the darkness.

Just when I thought I’d escaped, I picked up this morning’s paper to find out that the political ad wars are about to begin here.

Some background: I spent the last week in Cleveland, located in the great swing state of Ohio where it seems President Obama and Mitt Romney have purchased second homes. Seemed like every time I looked up one or the other was somewhere making a campaign pitch. Frankly, I’d reached the point of switching TV channels whenever I saw their faces. TMSI or Too Much Slanted Information.

Pity Ohioans. They’ve got to deal with the seemingly endless campaign rhetoric from both presidential candidates on a daily basis from now through November.

So indeed, it was a relief to return home Sunday night and not see an avalanche of back to back Obama and Romney ads.

But based on today’s page one story, while Romney and Obama aren’t likely to duke it out in New York, where Obama has a healthy lead, TV viewers in these parts are bound to get their share of TV ads over the coming weeks featuring other candidates. So far nearly $1 mllion in local TV ads are on the books. And that’s just for a handful of candidates, mainly Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

The polls show that Americans are turned off by politics. Check in with them by the time the fall campaigns end.

Editorial Board

has, for the past 18 years as Editorial Page editor, been responsible for producing more than 5,100 daily Editorial and Speaking Out pages. He started his journalism career in Cleveland shortly after graduating from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Along the way, he has had career stops in Denver, Orlando, Fla., and White Plains. But unquestionably, he says, some of his most rewarding years as a journalist have been here in Rochester, being a part of positive change. That change has included reforms that followed an aggressive "Challenging Albany" campaign, greater public awareness and pushback against the coarsening of our culture, and strides being made to make this region a destination community.

I joined the Democrat and Chronicle in December 2011 as digital opinion editor, a position that combines traditional editorial responsibilities with the fostering and promotion of online conversation across a number of digital platforms and social media.

I bring to the position some 25 years of media experience in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region, having served as managing editor at Messenger Post Media, where I wrote columns, editorials and blogs, among an array of other newsroom duties.

I'm a lifelong New Yorker who has called Long Island, the North Country and, now, western New York home.

When I'm not in a newsroom or in front of a computer, I'm usually enjoying time with family or lost in a book.

became editor of community partnerships and niche content in November 2011, a position new to the Democrat and Chronicle. She is charged with increasing community engagement across all platforms, web and print. Sutter also has served as deputy editorial page editor, managing editor and general manager/custom content at the Democrat and Chronicle. She has worked as a reporter or editor for newspapers in Iowa, Illinois, Florida, South Carolina and Elmira, where she was executive editor of the Star-Gazette. She holds a master's degree in media management and a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

I have been with the Democrat and Chronicle since 2006, when I was hired as letters editor. In 2008, I shifted into the role of community conversation coordinator. Most of my time on the job is spent reading and editing the thousands of letters to the editor we receive each year. I love learning about a wide variety of subjects every day while fact-checking letters. Aside from editing the letters, I also monitor reader comments posted on our website, and write editorials, blog posts and tweets.

I am a lifelong reader of the D&C, so I’m particularly honored to lend my voice to the Editorial Board. As a registered conservative and strong advocate of free market economics, it is likely that I will bring an alternate view to the discussion, so I applaud the D&C for asking me aboard.

My passion about economics and politics first emanated from our family dinner-table discussions growing up in Brighton, where no topic was off limits. After graduating from Brighton High School and then from Middlebury College as an economics major, I started my career with Case Hoyt, a once nationally recognized printing company based in Rochester. I relocated to Philadelphia, Washington and then Boston to attend Harvard Business School before happily moving back home just as my wife and I were starting a family.

I have actively engaged in various volunteer leadership roles at the Wilmot Cancer, St. Thomas More Church and now Rochester Prep Charter School and the Kilian Schmitt Foundation.

Personally, my wife, Caroline, and I have three grown children who have all left the area for college as well as to start their work careers.

I have lived in Rochester, both in the city and the suburbs, for most of my life. I have a degree from Roberts Wesleyan College in religion and philosophy, and I currently work for the Volunteers of America as a case manager for families who receive the Shelter Plus Care housing grant.

I live in the town of Chili with my husband and my sons, Gavin and Troy. Spending time with them is my favorite thing to do. My husband, Scott, owns a small sales and marketing company.

I love Rochester and am actively involved in the community. I serve on several boards and committees, including the Chili Parks and Recreation Committee. Recently I accepted the role of president of the Monroe County Republican Women (a non party-funded organization). Lastly, I am the director of The Bridge, a developing nonprofit that promotes sustainable homeless outreach efforts and organizes bipartisan discussions on issues related to poverty.

I am passionate about seeking out lasting solutions to poverty and bridging the political and cultural gaps. Find me on Twitter (@annaiseman), Facebook, or in future D&C discussions.

Board of Contributors

I manage an educational project for RIT, and teach as an adjunct professor at Nazareth College and the Warner School of Education. In an earlier life, I directed a modern dance company and worked as a teaching artist in schools. I hold a PhD in education with a focus on arts, curriculum and teaching. My areas of interest are education, politics and the arts. I plan to share perspectives on the current changes taking place in the field of education, and have a special interest in political art. I hope to stimulate good discussions in these areas through blogging and guest interviews.

My name is Makenzie Marino and I'm a 16-year-old junior at Our Lady of Mercy High School. I've been writing since I was 7. Writing is my passion; it's the way I express myself and my creativity. As a member of the board I hope to educate people in Rochester on events going on in our area and also bring to people's attention topics that maybe they'd look over otherwise. Also, I hope to learn things myself and be educated by other board members, and by visitors that will be showing up to the meetings. I hope to bring forth positive energy and educate people around me.

I was born and raised in central New York. I earned a bachelor's degree from SUNY Brockport, and now gladly call the Flower City home. I’m a married mother of three young children who keep me on my toes. I write a Blog, From Playgrounds to Politics, which often focuses on hot-button topics as well as about parenting, education, current events, political punditry and entertainment news. I have blogged for the Democrat and Chronicle for several years, focusing local issues and public schools. Follow me on Twitter @Mango1531. As a Board of Contributors member, I hope to write in no-holds-barred style about social topics within our community.

I’m a transplanted New Englander, who has resided with my family in Rochester’s 19th Ward for over 20 years. I left a career in book publishing when I moved from the Boston area, and then got my master’s in education at Nazareth College. I have taught in local schools and am currently an adjunct teacher at The Strong’s National Museum of Play. I write fiction and memoir, volunteer in my neighborhood library, love to travel, coordinate an Exploring Post in health careers, and am a staunch advocate for children.

I retired as Rochester’s commissioner of Community Development in 2009. I’m the co-founder of Eugenio María de Hostos Charter School and serve as the volunteer CEO/chairman of the board. I also serve on five other boards. I was president and CEO of Ibero-American action League from 1993 to 2006. From 1987 to 1990, I owned and operated a Super Duper in the city, and worked briefly as a Spanish teacher. I have a bachelor of science degree in social service administration from SUNY Empire State College and a master’s degree in education from The College at Brockport. I am the author of “Journey of Puerto Rican Jíbaro,” a memoir.

As a life-long resident of Rochester, I am honored and humbled to be selected for the Board of Contributors. It is my hope that through this forum, I will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue that will uplift, inspire and challenge others to contribute to the economic, social, emotional/mental and spiritual health needs of Monroe County’s neediest residents. It is disheartening to me that Rochester is one of the poorest cities in this nation. We all have a part in this universe to offer a hand up and not a hand out. I’m married to my high school sweetheart and we are blessed to share three awesome children.

I work as a shipping and receiving clerk in Rochester. I look forward to being on the Board of Contributors and taking part in discussions of issues facing Rochester in 2014. I intend to add a pragmatic, moderate voice and concentrate on solutions and successes. Beyond the liberal/conservative gridlock there are pragmatic solutions upon which a majority can agree. The moderate majority is not as vocal as extremists to the left and right and this makes moderates easy to ignore. I look forward to being part of the Democrat and Chronicle's effort to contribute to the quality of life in this community.

I grew up in the Rochester area, attended PS35, graduated from Brighton High School, then attended SUNY College at Geneseo and the University of Chicago and earned his PhD at Northwestern University. A lifelong educator, child advocate and bestselling author of books and articles on leadership, collaboration, and education reform, I’ve been a middle school teacher, high school coach, school board member, college professor, dean of education at four universities, distinguished visiting scholar, community-based and regional nonprofit executive, education advisor to Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, and associate superintendent of education for the State of Ohio. I currently am vice president for community programs at the Rochester Area Community Foundation.

As an active Community Member on the Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board in 2013, and a division sales manager of a consumer company prior to that, I hope to stay involved with current events on the Board of Contributors, weighing in with my unique perspective on issues and headlines in 2014. A former United States Marine Corps Officer, and current retired "East Side Suburbanite," I feel that my "conservative-leaning" voice represents a part of the community that deserves to be heard.

I am a lay associate pastor at Spiritus Christi Church and a nurse of 28 years. In my role as associate pastor, I lead racial justice work, welcome new members and facilitate diversity within our ministeries. I am looking forward to being a board contributor so that I might engage in the conversations and topics this community most cares about to forge unity. It is my hope that, together, we join our visions and perspectives to examine what is, and lean in to shape ultimately what could be. If we do that I am hopeful that we will embody the "One City" Rochester mantra we all envision.

I am a third-year journalism and political science student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Being a native of Rochester has carved within me a passion for urban life and a desire to fully understand the complexity of the many issues Rochesterians face. I care most about education, youth, race and poverty, and have blogged for the Democrat and Chronicle’s Unite Rochester initiative. I am very excited to be offering my voice through the Board of Contributors and I hope to spark some great conversations with the rest of my community.